Why are the Patriots so bad at drafting? They aren’t.

The Patriots have had the toughest roster to crack in the NFL for 14 years. They have picked at the end of the draft or have been forced to sacrifice picks to move up every year for the last 14 years. The Patriots are one of the best franchises in the league at recycling cheap veterans in free agency, and they rank with the Packers and Giants at finding and grooming rookie “street” free agents. Therefore, their “high” draft picks are not very high, and they enter an environment where the starter might be All-Pro, the backup just got plucked off the waiver wire from Tampa for a custom-fitted role and the undrafted rookie at the same position is a top athlete who will be given a serious chance to compete. Under the circumstances, it is inevitable that some high-round picks wash out.

It’s OK for Patriots fans to keep thinking that the Patriots stink in the draft, though, because it is the only time they ever admit that the Patriots might be imperfect mortals.